my functional medicine journey to wellness

When I sat down to write this post, I fully expected to share all of the details of my next half marathon and my training plan and my crossfit experience so far.

Then, I had the brilliant idea to see if I could find my heavy metal test results on the Genova Diagnostics website first. Well, it was super easy to locate and now I’m super unhappy.

Why, exactly, didn’t I just wait until my next appointment? I don’t understand the six pages of text that accompany these results, and now I’m even more anxious for my appointment on Wednesday…

In other news, I’m committed to running a second half marathon! I’m going to run the Buffalo Half Marathon on Sunday, May 28, 2017. I am loosely following the Hal Higdon Half Marathon Novice 2 program again, but plan to adjust some of the runs on a weekly basis and will incorporate some speed work. My first half marathon was only about finishing. This time, I want to focus on dramatically improving my time (hoping for a >20 minute PR). I’ll advance to the Intermediate 1 program next time 🙂

At the beginning of my functional medicine journey, it was recommended that I complete a food sensitivity test. The phlebotomist removed what felt like 900 vials of blood, and three weeks later I was able to see my individual reactions to over 80 different foods. Much to my dismay, I was reacting to almonds at the time and had to give up all almond-based products (almond milk, almond cream cheese, almond butter, straight up almonds). I followed a strict vegan diet before transitioning to the functional medicine diet and developed a love for these almond-based products; it was so tough to remove them all!

Almost a year later, I am thankfully able to eat almonds and almond-based products again. It’s a good thing – my FAVORITE almond product manufacturer FINALLY created a plain, unsweetened, artisan almond milk yogurt.

Leave it to Facebook memories to remind me that exactly one year ago today I embarked on what I thought would be my “35 day detox” diet.

In classic detox diet style, I happily ate one more cherry-filled vegan pastry the night before, assuming I would make it through my 5 weeks of no sugar but pleased to have an excuse to enjoy dessert one more time.